This book puts a spotlight on innovation across the software universe, setting out key issues and highlighting policy perspectives.

It spans research and development, invention, production, distribution and use of software in the market. It also covers core innovation themes from a user perspective -- including security and privacy, mobility, interoperability, accessibility and reliability.

Project background

Under the guidance of its Committee on Industry, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE), the OECD carried out a project to analyse the drivers of innovation in the software sector. This project had three modules:

Research and development and the market environment in the software industry; and

User perspectives with respect to secure and accessible software.

An initial conference on Innovation in the Software Sector was held in Cáceres, Spain, in November 2007, bringing together experts, industry representatives and policy-makers to discuss preliminary empirical results. A second OECD conference on the topic took place in Tokyo in October 2008, with the objective of presenting and refining the draft findings of the OECD project.

This publication constitutes the final project report.

Innovation in the Software Sector is also part of the OECD Innovation Strategy, a comprehensive policy strategy to harness innovation for stronger and more sustainable growth and development, and to address the key global challenges of the 21st century.

For further information, please contact the project staff at SI@oecd.org